ACADEMY graduate Will Smallbone is excited to be back at Saints after spending last season on loan at Stoke City in the Championship.

Having signed his first professional contract with Saints in 2017, the Basingstoke-born midfielder first broke into the senior team in February 2020.

An anterior critical ligament injury in early 2021, just as he was starting to be a regular fixture in first team squads, kept the academy graduate on the sidelines for many months.

Now 23 years old, and with a full senior campaign with Stoke under his belt, Smallbone is excited to be back in Southampton colours.

Speaking after Saints 3-2 pre-season defeat against Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth, he said: “Coming through the academy the end goal is always to play for the first team.

“Last season was great for me. Stoke were great and I can’t thank them enough for taking me in and allowing me to play as many games as I did.

“Coming back (to Southampton) I want to give the best version of myself on the pitch and give myself the best chance going forward into the season.

“Last year my main focus was to play for Stoke and to play as many minutes and to give the best version as I could for them as a club.

"Now coming back, it’s the same thing and I’m looking forward to trying to play as many games as possible.

“Looking through the team we haven’t really got an abundance of Championship experience. Whatever I can bring from my own experiences last season can hopefully help the team."

Smallbone has been one of the stand-out performers during Martin's first pre-season as Saints boss.

The retired defender was quick to praise the Irish international after his side's win over Reading on Saturday, and admitted to being a long-standing admirer of the midfielder.

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"Russell is renowned for his style of play and it’s quite unique, especially in terms of the Championship," Smallbone added, reflecting on his first month working under the former Scotland international. 

"There are a lot of differences to my time at Stoke, but there are also some similarities. 

"If you ask anyone when they most enjoy playing football they’ll tell you it’s when they’ve got the ball.

"If we can have as much of it as possible this season then I’m sure everyone will be as happy as they are. 

"Although I wasn’t here last year, the style of play has switched from two polar opposites and I think everyone is still getting used to the new style.

“But as you can see as time has gone on through pre-season we have put in better performances and we are all finding it a bit more comfortable now.

“I think in the first two games against Benfica and Goztepe we were trying to get used to the system and we were probably a little bit unsure at times.

"Over the last two games, especially the second half today, you can see that we are growing into the system and the style of play. 

Smallbone also noted that playing under Martin has formed him to reassess which position he prefers to play on the field. 

"Before coming in this season I would have probably told you that my favourite position was as a number eight.

"Since I’ve come in this season I’ve played either as a six or as an eight, and now I think either position.

"As long as I’m on the pitch I’ll be happy to play wherever, but I think I can play either position quite comfortably.

"It’s not too unnatural for me to play in either one, especially with this style of play."